AMBUBACHI MELA AT KAMAKHYA TEMPLE.

Back in 2019, it was my first photo tour of the Holy Kamakhya Temple during the Ambubachi Mela / Fair at Guwahati city of Assam.

Due to the COVID – 19 global pandemic this year in 2020 the authorities held the occassion in a very subdued manner without any gathering.

About Ambubachi

The age old Kamakhya Temple is situated on the Nilachal hills of Guwahati city of Assam. Ambubachi Mela/fair is held annually during the month of June every year.

Devotees washing themselves at the Saubhagya Kund.

According to the Hindu mythology, King Dakshya, was against the marriage of his daughter Sati with Lord Shiva. Once he organized a yagna called the Dakshya Yagna where he invited all the gods and goddesses except lord Shiva. When asked by Sati, Dakshya insulted Shiva and termed him as Chandal. Sati couldn’t bear her father’s harsh words against her husband and jumped into the fire of the yagna.

Back at Mount Kailash (abode of lord Shiva) when Shiva got the news of Sati’s death, he came to Dakshya’s palace in great anger and destroyed the yagna with his accomplices. Shiva then carried the body of Sati in his shoulder and started the dance of destruction – TANDAVA. It was so fearsome that it had the power to destroy the whole universe.

Upon seeing this, lord Vishnu by virtue of the power of his weapon – the Sudarshan Chakra, cut the body of Sati into 51 pieces. Wherever those body parts had fallen, there is now a temple situated and are known as the “Shakti peethas”.

One of such Shakti Peetha is the Kamakya Temple where Sati’s womb (garbha) & vagina (yoni) had fallen.

The main sanctum of Kamakhya Temple doesn’t have an idol to worship but has a non – stop little spring which flows out of it’s Garbha Griha, which is believed and worshipped. Legends has it that during Ambubachi mother Sati undergoes her yearly menstrual cycle for three days.

During these auspicious three days, the main Garbha Griha remains closed for the devotees. A big fair is held each year around the temple where a lot of Sadhus and Sanyasis (sages and hermits) come from all over India to attend the occasion.

If luck favours then one may get to see the Aghori Sanyasis who generally keep themselves in aloofness.

Communication and stay

Guwahati is well connected through Roadways, Railways and by Flight. But during the Ambubachi fair there is restricted / minimal entry of vehicles to the temple premises. One has to walk up to rech the temple.

There are various hotels and guest houses available for a comfortable stay at Guwahati city. But near the temple at the Nilachal Hills there ain’t much available barring only few. One can opt for home stay too.